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pathogenesis

American  
[path-uh-jen-uh-sis] / ˌpæθ əˈdʒɛn ə sɪs /
Also pathogeny

noun

  1. the production and development of disease.


pathogenesis British  
/ ˌpæθəˈdʒɛnɪsɪs /

noun

  1. the origin, development, and resultant effects of a disease

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of pathogenesis

From New Latin, dating back to 1875–80; see origin at patho-, -genesis


Explanation

The medical term pathogenesis means the source of a disease. Your doctor might guess that the pathogenesis of your ear infection was a bad cold that caused congestion and swelling. If you ask your doctor, "How did I get chickenpox?" you're asking about the pathogenesis of an illness that gave you an itchy rash and a high fever. The word stems from the Greek pathos, "suffering or disease," and genesis, "origin." In medical terms, pathogenesis lays out the biological progression of a disease from its origin to the symptoms it caused that sent you to your doctor's office.

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Vocabulary lists containing pathogenesis

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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"This is the first study to highlight the key role of biomechanical forces in the pathogenesis of early-onset CRC," said Jacopo Ferruzzi, Ph.D.,

From Science Daily ● Jan. 24, 2026

These details can reveal how molecular interactions contribute to cellular functions, which is critical for advancing targeted therapies and understanding disease pathogenesis.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 26, 2024

"We created a model of hibernation, which is so critical to understanding of the pathogenesis of the infection."

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2024

The findings will pave the way for a more detailed understanding of the epigenetic dysregulation mechanisms in AT/RT pathogenesis and enable researchers to identify which genes contribute to the malignant progression of the tumour.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 15, 2024

One would not deny all practical bearing to such investigations of pathogenesis.

From Mentally Defective Children by Alfred Binet

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